§ Mr. Chris Smithasked the Prime Minister if she will consider matching pound for pound from public funds the money raised from voluntary contributions during the past four weeks of International AIDS Day.
§ The Prime MinisterI congratulate all those who have raised money for AIDS projects through International AIDS Day. This is an entirely private charitable venture. For their part, the Government are undertaking a £20 million programme of public education. A further £7 million has been allocated in 1987–88 for the treatment, care and counselling of victims and infected people. An extra £14.5 million for research over the next three years will be made available to the Medical Research Council. Money has also been provided for the voluntary bodies dealing with AIDS. The need for further funding will be kept under review.